Reuters US Domestic News Summary
Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.
Miami Mayor Suarez launches long-shot bid for 2024 Republican nomination
Francis X. Suarez, the mayor of Miami who has overseen a tech-driven economic boom in the city, became the latest Republican to join the burgeoning ranks of presidential aspirants, according to a Federal Election Commission filing on Wednesday. Reuters was not able to immediately confirm authenticity of the FEC filing.
Trump raises $7 million for 2024 campaign since federal indictment
Former President Donald Trump's 2024 White House campaign said on Wednesday he had raised $7 million since being indicted on federal charges last week, as his message of political persecution continues to resonate with die-hard supporters. "President Trump Raises Over $6.6 Million and Counting Since Deranged Jack Smith Announced Political Prosecution," Trump's campaign wrote in an email to supporters on Wednesday, referring to the U.S. special counsel investigating him.
US House Judiciary leader subpoenas documents from climate groups
A U.S. congressional leader on Wednesday issued a subpoena seeking information from climate activists over antitrust issues, joining other Republicans who have criticized companies' growing concern for environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote in a letter to a lawyer for Boston-based sustainability nonprofit Ceres that it "appears to facilitate collusion" in potential violation of antitrust law through its work with the Climate Action 100+. Ceres is a sponsor of the latter, an investor coalition aiming to convince companies to address climate change by cutting emissions or disclosing transition details.
Trump's defense team still taking shape as he appears in court
Donald Trump was accompanied by two of his attorneys on Tuesday when he appeared in a Miami courtroom and pleaded not guilty to federal criminal charges. But his defense team is still evolving after at least three key members left in recent weeks. Attorneys Todd Blanche and Chris Kise appeared with the former president during his arraignment, days after two other lawyers who had been helping Trump´s defense - Jim Trusty and John Rowley - resigned in the wake of his indictment. Both Blanche and Kise indicated at the hearing that they would remain on the case permanently.
Alex Jones could face two more defamation trials over school shooting lies
Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones could face two more defamation trials in 2023, under an agreement meant to put a price on lies that Jones told about school shootings in the U.S. Jones' attorneys previewed the agreement at a Wednesday court hearing in Houston, telling U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez that it allows Jones to avoid further trials if he completes a bankruptcy settlement by Aug. 31.
'Rust' armorer may have brought live rounds on set -prosecutors
Prosecutors say they have evidence pointing to the possibility the armorer for the movie "Rust" introduced live rounds onto the set where a gun that actor Alec Baldwin was holding fired a bullet, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021. Prosecutors had previously said it might never be clear how live rounds, which are not allowed on movie sets, got to the "Rust" set in New Mexico. Charging documents had held Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was working as chief weapons handler on her second film, was responsible for "allowing live ammunition on the set," but not for bringing in the live rounds.
Senate confirms ACLU lawyer to NY federal court after GOP backlash
A voting rights lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday overcame fierce Republican opposition to secure U.S. Senate confirmation as a judge on the Manhattan federal district court. Dale Ho, director of the ACLU´s Voting Rights Project, was confirmed on a nearly party-line 50-49 vote. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the lone Democrat who voted against the nomination, citing "prior inflammatory statements" by Ho.
New York grand jury indicts former Marine in killing of Jordan Neely
A New York grand jury voted on Wednesday to indict Daniel Penny, a former U.S. Marine sergeant, in last month's killing of Jordan Neely, a homeless man, with a chokehold on a Manhattan subway car, a person familiar with the case said. Penny, 24, was captured in videos recorded by bystanders putting Neely in a chokehold on May 1 while they rode on an F train in Manhattan.
Trump pleads not guilty in federal documents case
Former U.S. President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to federal criminal charges that he unlawfully kept national-security documents when he left office and lied to officials who sought to recover them. Trump's plea, entered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman in a federal court in Miami, sets up a legal battle likely to play out over coming months as he campaigns to win back the presidency in a November 2024 election. Experts say it could be a year or more before a trial takes place.
Biden vetoes bill that would negate EPA heavy truck pollution cuts
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday vetoed a measure approved by Congress that would overturn his administration's sharp new limits on emissions from heavy-duty trucks responsible for significant soot and smog. The veto preserves Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules will "make our air cleaner and prevent thousands of premature deaths by limiting hazardous heavy-duty vehicle pollution," Biden said on Twitter.
